Hakuin (1685-1768) is a prime example of a Zen thinker who affirms equality at the fundamental level of buddha-nature (the first line of Zazen Wasan (Song in Praise of Zazen) reads, "sentient beings are fundamentally buddhas") while accepting the notion that karma determines social standing. For example, in Segyō-uta (Song about the Practice of Giving), Hakuin valorizes inequality:

"Those who have riches and honors in this world are reaping the fruits of seeds that they planted in previous lifetimes. . . . This life depends on the seeds from previous lifetimes, and the future depends on seeds from this lifetime. The amount of wealth and honor depends on the amount of seeds sown. In this lifetime there is not much for us to sow, so select good seeds and sow them. . . . People who have to go and scavenge food that has been thrown away by others did not sow sufficient seeds in their previous existence, so now they are beggars."